Moyes accepts FA charge

David Moyes has accepted an FA charge of misconduct for comments he made about referees after Manchester United's 2-1 League Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Sunderland.

The United manager, who had until 6pm GMT on Wednesday to respond to the charge, has requested a non-personal hearing.

The Scot had said that United were "beginning to laugh at referees" after what he called "terrible" decisions. He had also claimed that the Premier League champions were "playing referees as well as the opposition."

Moyes was charged on Friday when an FA statement said: "It is alleged the comments called into question the integrity of the match officials appointed to that fixture and/or appointed to Manchester United fixtures generally, and/or implied that such match officials are motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute, in contravention of Rule E3(1)."

Moyes had also been critical of the officials after Tottenham won 2-1 at Old Trafford on New Year's Day, saying referee Howard Webb's refusal to award a penalty when Hugo Lloris challenged Ashley Young was "an incredible decision, one of the worst I ever saw" and "scandalous."